With most of us experiencing information overload, it is still difficult to overlook the proposals by three major candidates in Election 2008:

Senator McCain: His plan addresses interstate healthcare, with outcomes, quality, cost and pricing based upon national standards. Much of his focus is on the responsibility of the consumer to be better educated and therefore in a position to take more control over their care. He has also addressed wellness, and among other things, a plan to stem the escalating problems associated with obesity.

Senator Obama: His proposal to create a National Health Insurance Exchange which would represent a watchdog group helping reform the private insurance market. Insurers would be required to issue each applicant a policy that provides adequate coverage at a fair premium without penalty of existing health problems. Senator Obama also advocates benchmarks for quality and outcomes measurements.

And even though she is no longer in the running, Senator Clinton: Long a proponent of Universal coverage, her “American Health Choices Plan” gives individuals the option to continue their current coverage or elect from any number of plans based on those available to members of the United States Congress. Employers would help finance this plan, and the government would be responsible for ensuring all coverage is affordable. Tax credits which cap healthcare coverage expenditures based upon income is one feature that has attracted attention.

World Physical Therapy Day – Sept. 8, 2008

This year’s theme: “Movement for Health” Each year on September 8th, physical therapists around the world use World Physical Therapy Day to draw attention to the contribution the physical therapy profession can make to the health of individuals and nations. It’s an opportunity for physical therapy professionals to say what they do, how they do it, why they do it and why physical therapists are the movement, physical activity and exercise experts. For more information or ideas on how to promote World Physical Therapy Day visit the World Confederation for Physical Therapy at www.wcpt.org.